Montgomery July

 

Dear Cousin Parna.

                                    Yours of last spring is in Sullivan so I can not answer it as I could if it were here. I enjoyed it so very much. Bell said it was such a good letter and at home they have said what a good letter Parna's was! There was so much in it. We tried to make all we could of it. I sent it to Bell. She sent it home. Katie sent it to Nancy with directions to send it to Aunt Mary. I am sorry that it hurts you to write. Were it not for that I would urge you to write oftener I think Debby is justifyable in being home-sick. It must / be a dreary place to live. Like all places it has some advantages I suppose. When I received your letter I was trying to decide that important question what should I have for a hat. I thought that was something that was not troubling Debbys mind.

 

            Tell cousin Lee he must learn to like letter-writing by writing often. The more he writes the less it will be a task

 

            School closed the 3^d We were partially evaporated by that time. The first week I spent at Bell's new home at White Plains Westchester County. Charles bought lots there and commenced a house in the winter. They moved into it in May and he is working at it after hours. It is near enough finished to get along very / well only the kitchen and dish closet are too small. The two most important rooms in a poor man's house. The house is quite small. I do not know the dimensions. It will do very well for their family. Ernie had a slight attack of sickness while I was there but nothing serious Bell and Charles were in usual health.

 

            I came home on Thursday the 11^th Mother does not feel as strong this summer as usual. Father & Katie are in usual health. This excessive and long continued heated spell has told on every one. In the city every looked exhausted. There were so many nights in succession that people could not sleep. The mortality of man and horses was very great. The second week the deaths / from heat was 1000. It is still warm but not so excessively warm and the nights are cooler. Here we need rain very much. The grain is being harvested. It is a medium yield. Grass is light Corn is very fine. It is not in tassel yet. Cherries are very abundant If you will bring your basket you will be very welcome to fill it. Aunt Eliza Brown on Friday went above the ladder and picked a basket full. She thought that was doing very well for a lady seventy two years old.

 

            Henrietta Brown is sewing for a dress maker in New York. She likes it there very much

 

            I asked Father how much grain he he had but he said Uncle would only laugh if he knew I told him it would do him good to have a laugh but he / did not tell me. He has three and a half acres of corn. He has the grain down and partly raked up. Mr. Parks is helping him. Your father will remember him

 

            Barbara Dunlap Stewart had been failing all winter in May she was better and went to aunt Jane's in Monticello. Aunt Jane was taken sick and Barbara was worse but went home and after a rest was much better. She attend Jacob Dubois's funeral. A few days after, she was taken worse and unexpectedly to all died. Her death occurred about the first of June. I suppose she died of consumption. I think her children have lost their best friend.

 

            I had a letter from sister / Nancy. She is not very well this summer, but she and Dora are doing their own work. Cousin Eliza Wood has another baby. Margaret Marsh has been to Orange this summer.

 

            Katie has just been in and says tell your father, she had a letter from Mr. Wellstood in the spring. He said tell him he would go a hundred miles to see him. He wish to be remembered to him

 

            We have not heard from Uncle Blake in some time. I hope he will make his visit here while I am home. We have ten weeks vacation this year. I think it is too long, but there was no use in having school that last hot week.

 

            Next week Kate Blake and I anticipate going to the State Teacher's Association at Saratoga 

 

            I expect our healths will be very much improved. I expect to taste the water from some of the springs. I suppose there will be no danger of being imposed upon there. I have never tasted it in a drug store.

 

            Do not think for a minute that I hope to secure a rich husband by going there. That was a dream of former years I have wakened from that dreaming, and expect to tread the road of life alone, praying that I may be as highly favored in the future as in the past.

 

            I have endeavored to make up for the quality of yours in the length of this. I do not like blank paper in letters which I receive. We have to judge strangers sometimes by our selves / I ment to have used the term others instead of strangers in the previous sentence.

 

            All wish to be remembered to you all It is about a year ago we were enjoying your father's visit I hope we may have that pleasure again in this life.

 

With much love your

cousin Annie

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